Westbury (77-1) beat Malmesbury (74 all out) by 9 wickets – WEPL Wiltshire, Sat. 27th August

Westbury travelled to play Malmesbury hoping to do the double and to win the Championship with one game to play.

Westbury made one change with Clark Evans coming in for the unavailable Jacques Prinsloo.

Westbury won the toss and with bad weather around, had no hesitation in inserting Malmesbury.

Malmesbury made steady progress until the total reached 19 when Westbury made a double breakthrough when Oakley dismissed Royal (13) and Collinson (0) with the total at 19.

Richard Gaunt was then joined by James Pearce-Smith and they took the total to 31. Then there was a rain break and then Westbury ripped through the home batting line-up with 7 wickets falling for 43 runs.

Richard Oakley had the best figures of 3-15 ably supported by the rest of the attack, Senneck (3-31), Mills (2-7), Carroll (2-14). At the end of their innings Malmesbury had compiled 74  all out.

When Westbury batted they had no alarms in reaching the total despite losing Whiting for 31 when he was caught on the boundary and it was left to Mills (30*) and McDonald (4*) to take Westbury over the line and become 2016 champions, improving on their runners-up spot in 2015.

This was a fantastic and committed group of players who have got their just rewards on a fantastic unbeaten run that has lasted since the beginning of June.  With the Championship won they can go out and play their natural game in the last league game at home next week against Devizes who need to win to stay in the league.

Christopher Lack